96 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



half as long again as the tarsus ; second shorter than fourth, which is 

 almost as long as the third, all connected hy reticulated webs, which 

 are deeply concave at the margin ; the outer toe slightly margined, the 

 inner with a broad marginal membrane. Claws rather small, very 

 slightly arched, compressed, acute, that of the middle toe with a thin 

 inner edge. 



Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy. Feathers of the head 

 and upper part of the neck somewhat silky, blended, very narrow, elon- 

 gated along the median line, so as to form a very conspicuous erectile 

 crest, divided into two parts, those below the upper occipital region 

 and the nape being shorter, leaving two long tufts. Feathers of the 

 back rather compact, of the lower parts blended. Wings short, of mo- 

 derate breadth, convex, acute ; primaries narrow, tapering, the first 

 longest, the second only half a twelfth shorter, the rest rapidly gra- 

 duated ; secondaries rather short, narrow, rounded, the inner elongated 

 and tapering. Tail short, much roimded, of eighteen rounded, sub- 

 acuminate feathers. 



Bill deep carmine, dusky along the ridge, the unguis yellowish. 

 Iris carmine. Feet bright red, claws greyish-yellow. Head and upper 

 part of neck greenish-black, glossy, with bright green reflections along 

 the sides, and pvirplish on the crest. On the middle of the neck is a 

 broad ring of white ; and on its lower part a broad band of light brown- 

 ish-red, longitudinally streaked with dusky, each feather being laterally 

 margined with that colour. The lower parts are pure white, except- 

 ing the sides of the body and rump, which are transversely undulated 

 with greyish-black, and the larger wing-coverts, which are ash-grey. 

 The fore part of the back, and the inner scapulars, are deep black ; the 

 feathers at the shoulder, or anterior to the wing white, with a broad 

 margin of black ; some of the anterior wing-coverts ash-grey ; the other 

 small wing-coverts, the outer scapulars, and the terminal half of the se- 

 condary coverts, pure white ; the basal portion of the latter, the pri- 

 mary coverts, and primary quills, black, the latter tinged with brown- 

 ish-grey ; the secondaries white, with their base and the outer margin 

 of most black, which colour predominates on the inner. The middle 

 and hind part of the back ash-grey, undulated with white and dusky ; 

 the tail brownish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 24^ inches ; to end of vdngs 22^ ; to end of 

 claws 25^ ; extent of wings 33 ; bill along the ridge 1^^ ; wing from 



